July

July 19: Father Leo Dombrowsky

July 19, 1946

Father Leo Dombrowsky

Father Dombrowsky was born in Newton, Kansas, on June 1, 1896. He attended primary school at Sunnyside School and St. Mary’s School in Newton. His minor seminary studies were completed in 1916 at St. Benedict’s College, Atchison, KS and his major seminary studies were completed in 1921 at St. Meinrad’s Seminary, St.Meinrad, IN. Bishop Schwertner ordained him at St. Mary’s Cathedral on June 29, 1921. He was the first priest to be ordained by Bishop Schwertner and the first priest from Newton. St. Joseph’s Parish, Andale, and St. Mary’s Parish, Newton were Fr. Dombrowsky’s brief assignments as an assistant pastor. In 1923 he because pastor of Wright with Jetmore as a mission for 14 years and in 1937 he because pastor of Larned for 3 years. St. John the Baptist Parish in Spearville was his last assignment along with being dean of the Dodge City Deanery. On June 29, 1946 he celebrated his silver jubilee as a priest and began preparing a jubilee vacation to Oregon. On July 15, while on that vacation, he was injured in an automobile accident in the mountains near Albany, Oregon. He died four days later. Father John Vechensky, a nephew of Fr. Dombrowsky, celebrated the funeral Mass for his uncle in Spearville on July 26, 1946 with 70 priests in attendance.